Retractable winding mechanism for elastic motors

ABSTRACT

A winding mechanism for an elastic motor includes a manually actuatable winding element for rotating a rotatable member connectable to the elastic motor, a one-way drive device for transmitting drive in a first direction from the winding element to the rotatable member but not in the reverse direction to the first direction and including means for preventing reverse rotation of the rotatable member and means for automatically returning the winding element into its initial position after it has been moved in the first direction.

United States Patent [191 Gay et a1.

[ 1March 20, 1973 1 RETRACTABLE WINDING MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC MOTORS[75] Inventors: Derek J. Gay, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Ca1if.; William H.Smedley,

Garden Grove, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

[22] Filed: June 3, 1971 211 App]. No.: 149,427

[52] U.S. Cl ..l85/39, 185/DIG. 1, 46/78 [51] Int. Cl ..F03g 1/08, A63h27/00 [58] Field of Search.l85/39, 37, DIG. 1, 40 M, 40 A;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,342 4/1919 Farb..185/40 M 2,568,136 9/1951 Weimer ..46/78 UX 3,080,942 3/ 1963 Hunt185/39 3,111,785 11/1963 McRoskey et al. ..185/39 X 3,137,366 6/1964Rassier ..185/39 Primary Examiner-Edgar W. Geoghegan Attorney-Seymour A.Scholnick [5 7 ABSTRACT A winding mechanism for an elastic motorincludes a manually actuatable winding element for rotating a rotatablemember connectable to the elastic motor, a one-way drive device fortransmitting drive in a first direction from the winding element to therotatable member but not in the reverse direction to the first directionand including means for preventing reverse rotation of the rotatablemember and means for automatically returning the winding element intoits initial position after it has been moved in the first direction.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 RETRACTABLE WINDING MECHANISM FOR ELASTICMOTORS BACKGROUND THE INVENTION The background of the invention will beset forth in two parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains generally to the field ofwinding mechanisms for elastic motors and more particularly to a new anduseful retractable winding mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART United States Pat. No. 3,137,366 gives oneexample of a retractable winding mechanism for elastic motors includinga manually actuatable winding element for rotating a rotatable memberconnectable to the elastic motor, a one-way drive device fortransmitting drive in a first direction from the winding element to therotatable member but not in the reverse direction to the first directionand including means for preventing reverse rotation of the rotatablemember and means for automatically returning the winding element to itsinitial position after it has been moved in the first direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a new and useful device of the type described which exemplifiesimprovements over the prior art devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of thetype described which includes a new and improved one-way drive.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of thetype described which includes an improved winding element. v

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device ofthe type described which includes improved means for automaticallyreturning the winding element to its initial position.

According to a first embodiment of the present in vention, an elasticmotor is provided in a toy airplane and includes a first rubber bandhaving one end attached to a fixed tube and its other end connected tothe inboard end of a rotatable spindle. The outboard end of the spindlecarries the propeller for the airplane and includes a one-way drivemeans which engages the propeller hub during operation of the airplane.

The rubber band is wound by a drawstring which is looped aboutthespindle in such a manner that the drawstring will thrust the spindle inan outboard direction so that the one-way drive means will bedisconnected from the propeller during wind-up operations. Thedrawstring is automatically withdrawn after each winding stroke by asecond rubber band having one end affixed to the drawstring and anotherend affixed to the fixed tube.

A second embodiment is about like the first embodiment except that theone-way drive means includes a flexible finger swingably mounted on theairplane fuselage for engagement with a ratchet gear affixed to thespindle.

In a third embodiment, a self-coiling, plastic band is used in place ofthe drawstring and a shifting mechanism is employed to shift the one-waydrive means into operation only during the windup procedure.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended Claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to likeelements in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy airplane incorporating aretractable winding mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the parts during awinding operation;

FIG. 4 is an end view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a winding mechanism constituting asecond embodiment of the present invention; 7

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a winding mechanismconstituting a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawingsand more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, a winding mechanism constituting afirst embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10, isshown for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as beingemployed in a toy airplane 12 having a fuselage l4 and a propeller 16.

The retractable winding mechanism 10 includes a frusto-conical, fronthousing 18 having an outboard end 20, which carries an annular thrustbearing 22, and an open inboard end 24. Front housing 18 includes anencompassing sidewall 26 having a large-diameter portion 28, which isadapted to encompass fuselage 14, Y

and a small-diameter portion 30, which receives the outboard end 31 of arear housing 32 having a reduced diameter inboard portion 34 to which isaffixed the outboard end 36 of a fixed, cylindrical tube 38, which, inturn, includes an inboard end 40 provided with a longitudinal slot 42.

Winding mechanism 10 also includes a spindle 44 which extends through anaperture 46 in the outboard end 20 of front housing 18 and a bushing 48in rear housing 32. Spindle 44 includes an outboard end 50 having atooth sector 52 provided thereon. Outboard end 50 of spindle 44 isslideably and rotatably mounted in the hub portion 54 of propeller 16 insuch a manner that tooth sector 52 is selectively engageable with atooth 56 (FIG. 3) carried by hub 54.

Spindle 44 also includes an inboard end 58 provided with an opening 60through which the outboard end 61 of an elastic band 62 is trained. Band62 includes an inboard end 64 which is captured by slot 42 and end 40 oftube 38. End 58 of spindle 44 carries a pair of stop members 66, 68engageable with the inboard portion 34 of rear housing 32 to limit theoutboard travel of spindle 44 to that amount necessary for disengaginggear sector 52 from tooth 56 during the winding of elastic band 62, asshown in FIG. 3.

Spindle 44 also includes a bearing 70 journalled in bushing 48 and astring-receiving portion 72.

Winding mechanism 10 also includes a drawstring 74 having an inboard end76 connected to the outboard end 78 of an elastic member 80 which, inturn, has its inboard end 82 captured by slot 42 in end 40 of tube 38for retracting drawstring 74 to the position shown in FIG. 2. Drawstring74 passes through a first aperture 84 in rear housing 32, around portion72 of spindle 44 and out through a second aperture 86 in rear housing32. Drawstring 74 then terminates in an end 88 which carries a ring 90adapted to be grasped by a child-user of winding mechanism 10 forpulling drawstring 74 to the position shown in FIG. 3. Aperture 86 isupstream of aperture 84 so that the pulling of drawstring 74 not onlyrotates the spindle 44, but also slides it in an outboard directionuntil stops 66, 68 engage portion 34 of rear housing 32. If propeller 13is held in the position shown in FIG. 3 during this sliding movement ofspindle 44, gear sector 52 disengages from tooth 56 so that spindle 44may be rotated without also rotating propeller 16. Rotation of spindle44 twists and thereby tensions elastic band 62. Drawstring 74 rotatesspindle 44 as a limited amount for each pull on ring 90. Then, when ring90 is released, the tension in elastic band 62 pulls spindle 44 in aninboard direction until gear sector 52 engages tooth 56. When ring 90 isreleased, drawstring 74 loses its tension permitting elastic member 80to retract drawstring 74 to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Drawstring 74 may be stroked several times until elastic band 62 issufficiently tensioned to rotate propeller 16 for powering a suitableflight of airplan 12.

Gear sector 52 and tooth 56 comprise a one-way drive device of simple,economical construction not obtainable where propeller 16 is permanentlyfixed to the member corresponding to spindle 44 in some prior artelastic motors. 1

The winding mechanism 10 may be fully assembled and inserted intofuselage 14 of airplane 12 as an operating unit.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6, a winding mechanism constituting a secondembodiment of the present invention generally designated A, includes afixed tube 38A having an inboard end 40A affixed to a rear portion 92 ofa fuselage 14A forming part of a toy airplane, not shown. Tube 38A alsoincludes an outboard end 36A which is affixed to the front fuselageportion 94 ofa toy airplane, not shown.

Front fuselage portion 94 includes an outboard bearing 96 and an inboardbearing 98 in which a spindle 44A is rotatably mounted. A propeller 16Ais affixed to the outboard end 50A of spindle 44A and an elastic band62A has its outboard end 61A affixed to the inboard end 58A of spindle44A by a hook 100. The inboard end 64A of band 62A is trained through alongitudinal slot 42A provided in inboard end 40A of tube 38A.

A ratchet gear 102 is affixed to spindle 44A and includes teeth 104angled in the direction shown in FIG. 6. Teeth 104 are engaged by a pawl106 having a flexible ratcheting finger 108. Pawl 106 is pivotallymounted in fuselage 94 on a pin 112 so that it may be swung to theposition shown in FIG. 5 for winding operations and to a releasedposition when it is desired to permit elastic band 62A to rotatepropeller 16A.

Winding mechanism 10A also includes a drawstring 74A having its inboardend 76A connected to the outboard end 78A of an elastic member A havingits inboard end 82A securred to fuselage portion 92 for retractingdrawstring 74A to the position shown in FIG. 5 at the end of eachwinding stroke. Drawstring 74A is trained through apertures 114, 116 infuselage portion 94 and is also trained about spindle 44A for rotatingit when drawstring 74A is tensioned by grasping pull ring A andwithdrawing drawstring 74A from fuselage portion 94. This rotatesratchet gear 102 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6,permitting finger 108 to slide over teeth 104.

When pull ring 90A is released, finger 108 prevents gear 102 fromrotating in a clockwise direction and drawstring 74A is retracted byelastic member 80A.

. Pawl 106 may then be swung in the direction of arrow 118 (FIG. 5)bringing finger 108 out of engagement with gear 102, thereby releasingspindle 44A so that elastic band 62A will rotate propeller 16A.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, a winding mechanism constituting a thirdembodiment of the present invention, generally designated 103, includesa spindle 44B rotatably mounted in a fuselage portion 119 of a toyairplane, not shown. Spindle 44B includes an outboard portion 50Baffixed to the hub 54B of a propeller 16B and an inboard end 58B formedwith .a hook portion 120 engaged by the outboard'end 61B of an elasticband 62B. 7 g

A winding drum 122 is rotatably mounted on spindle 44B and is providedwith a shoulder 124 to which an end 126 of a self-recoiling, plasticstrip 128 is affixed. Strip 128 may be made from any suitable material,such as polyethylene terephthalate and is of sufficient length tonormally coil itself about drum 122 four or five turns.

Drum 122 includes an inboard face 130 which carries a plurality ofratchet teeth 132 engageable with a one-way drive member 134 affixed tospindle 44B. One-way drive member 134 includes an upstream face 136having ratchet teeth 138 provided thereon for engagement with teeth 132on drum 122 when a caming lever 140 is moved to the position shown inFIG. 7. This also brings a pair of fingers 142, 144, which are carriedby member 134, into engagement with ratchet teeth 146 extending aroundthe inner periphery of fuselage portion 119. Fingers 142, 144 and teeth146 prevent reverse rotation of spindle 44B at the end of each windingstroke and a light coil spring 148 permits teeth 132 on drum 122 to slipover teeth 138 on member 134 during retraction of strip 128 at the endof a winding stroke when the handle portion 150 of strip 128 isreleased. Strip 128 may be withdrawn from fuselage portion 119 asufficient number of times to fully wind elastic band 628. Lever 140 maythen be depressed permitting band 62A to move spindle 448 to the rightin the direction of arrow 152 sufficiently to bring member 134 out ofengagement with drum 122. Band 628 is then free to rotate propeller 16Bthrough spindle 44B.

When. strip 128 is pulled for a winding stroke, member 134 is rotated inthe direction of arrow 154 in FIG. 9 imparting rotation to spindle 44Band elastic band 62B.

While the particular retractable winding mechanisms herein shown anddescribed in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects andproviding the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understoodthat they are merely illustrative of the presently-preferred embodimentsof the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as defined in theappended claims.

The various arrows in the drawings indicate the direction of motion ofthe surfaces or elements near which they are placed.

What is claimed is:

l. A winding mechanism for an elastic motor including a manuallyactuatable winding element for rotating a rotatable member connectableto the elastic motor, a one-way drive device for transmitting drive in afirst direction from the winding element to the rotatable member but notin the reverse direction to the first direction and including means forpreventing reverse rotation of the rotatable member, and means forautomatically returning the winding element into its initial positionafter it has been moved in said first direction, characterized in thatsaid one-way drive device, comprises:

a ratchet gear affixed to said rotatable member; and

a pawl rotatably mounted on said winding mechanism for selectiveengagement with said ratchet gear, said winding element and said meansfor automatically returning said winding element into its initialposition, comprising a drawstring looped about said rotatable member andan elastic member connected to said drawstring.

2. A winding mechanism for an elastic motor including a manuallyactuatable winding element for rotating a rotatable member connectableto the elastic motor, a one-way drive device for transmitting drive in afirst direction from the winding element to the rotatable member but notin the reverse direction to the first direction and including means forpreventing reverse rotation of the rotatable member, and means forautomatically returning the winding element into its initial positionafter it has been moved in said first direction, characterized in thatsaid one-way drive device, comprises:

a ratchet gear affixed to said rotatable member; and

a pawl rotatably mounted on said winding mechanism for selectiveengagement with said ratchet gear,

said winding element and said means for automatically returning saidwinding element into its initial position, comprising a drum rotatablymounted on said rotatable member,

said drum being provided with ratchet teeth engageable with said one-waydrive device for imparting rotation thereto when said drum is rotated inengagement therewith; and

a self-coiling plastic strip affixed to said drum, said strip beiggnormally coiled about said drum and being W1 drawable from said drum forimparting rotation thereto and to said one-way drive device through saidratchet teeth; and a caming lever for shifting said one-way drive deviceinto engagement with said ratchet teeth.

1. A winding mechanism for an elastic motor including a manuallyactuatable winding element for rotating a rotatable member connectableto the elastic motor, a one-way drive device for transmitting drive in afirst direction from the winding element to the rotatable member but notin the reverse direction to the first direction and including means forpreventing reverse rotation of the rotatable member, and means forautomatically returning the winding element into its initial positionafter it has been moved in said first direction, characterized in thatsaid one-way drive device, comprises: a ratchet gear affixed to saidrotatable member; and a pawl rotatably mounted on said winding mechanismfor selective engagement with said ratchet gear, said winding elementand said means for automatically returning said winding element into itsinitial position, comprising a drawstring looped about said rotatablemember and an elastic member connected to said drawstring.
 2. A windingmechanism for an elastic motor including a manually actuatable windingelement for rotating a rotatable member connectable to the elasticmotor, a one-way drive device for transmitting drive in a firstdirection from the winding element to the rotatable member but not inthe reverse direction to the first direction and including means forpreventing reverse rotation of the rotatable member, and means foraUtomatically returning the winding element into its initial positionafter it has been moved in said first direction, characterized in thatsaid one-way drive device, comprises: a ratchet gear affixed to saidrotatable member; and a pawl rotatably mounted on said winding mechanismfor selective engagement with said ratchet gear, said winding elementand said means for automatically returning said winding element into itsinitial position, comprising a drum rotatably mounted on said rotatablemember, said drum being provided with ratchet teeth engageable with saidone-way drive device for imparting rotation thereto when said drum isrotated in engagement therewith; and a self-coiling plastic stripaffixed to said drum, said strip being normally coiled about said drumand being withdrawable from said drum for imparting rotation thereto andto said one-way drive device through said ratchet teeth; and a caminglever for shifting said one-way drive device into engagement with saidratchet teeth.